to take care of us.
In the end there was no one to keep us safe from him. I’m here now and this is the home stretch out of hell.
“Great. We’re all extremely excited. Well, this is it. You get ready and you dance. I’ll have someone there waiting to tend to you at the end of the performance. The ball’s flight will end at Christian lounge tonight.”
He’s one of the owners of the club. I heard it was Christian who hired Tatiana. Each of the owners do different things here. He’s responsible for some of the wilder attractions like what I’m doing tonight.
“Oh, cool.”
“He’s nice. Watch it though, he’s the last Giordano bachelor left, sexy as hell and hot as sin. The girls want to get him into their beds and a lot of them would love a ring on their finger. Get too close and you’ll make a few enemies.”
She chuckles and shakes her head. I’ll be fine. Men are out of the question for me, so the girls are welcome to him.
“Don’t worry about me,” I answer.
I’ll be staying away. Nice as Mimi and Salvatore are, there’s more than one reason for me to watch myself around that family. I’m aware who the Giordanos are. I did my research and it’s a known thing in Chicago that they’re a mafia family.
“If you need me for anything I’ll be there. The club’s safe word is red. If anybody tries anything you don’t like, you scream red,” she cautions with a stern expression.
Safe words….
I’m gonna have a hard time wrapping my head around this.
“Thank you,” I say.
“No worries. Let’s get you ready then.” The smile returns to her face and I feel more assured. The last thing I want is for her to think I’m going to chicken out.
I’m not.
I’m ready within the hour. My first performance is at eight. The club opens at seven, but most of the crowd rolls in at eight.
Tonight, I’m dressed in a white baby doll negligee. It looks like the erotic version of something Tinkerbell would wear. Underneath, I’ll be wearing a thong so people will definitely see my ass. The top of the body is completely see-through, so anyone looking can see my very pink nipples pressing against the white of the fabric.
My hair is up in a tight high ponytail, but the ends flow down long with a hint of a wave covering my shoulders. That is my only covering. The rest of me feels naked and exposed.
Louise gives me a hopeful smile as I step into the crystal ball and I suck in a breath as it lifts into the air.
I’m on the fifth floor. No one can see me yet. I’m supposed to move when the music starts playing. Salvatore, does all the fancy tech. He designed this whole set up, and I felt it was comparable to something you’d see on a movie set.
On my first step I’ll become visible and activate the crystal ball. Smoke and lights will come on, and so will I. People will see me. I’ll become the dancer I was five years ago, before my world changed.
This will be a version of the dream I hope for myself with a dark twist. As soon as I step out, men will be watching me, wanting me. Probably paying to have me for the night. It might be one, it might be two or three.
Anything means anything at The Dark Odyssey.
The music plays and I take that step. The lights go on and although I’m about fifty feet in the air and the music fills the room, I hear it… the sound of amazement and wonder. A gasp in unison of the crowd below. It’s just like before when I used to dance on stage.
The same magic mom used to talk about. My mother was my guiding voice and light in the darkest abyss. As long as I danced the magic would always be in my heart.
It comes to me now and I’m not here. I’m the girl I was six years ago, before the devil placed a ring on my finger and chained my soul to hell. I’m that girl who stood on the stage of the … in LA dancing in the grand ballet. I’m the girl who played Princess Odette, Juliet, Carmen, and many others. I’m the girl who looked out to the crowd and saw her mother watching on with pride.
Even though Mom is gone, the magic is still with me now